Castles of legend

Come and recreate history in the inland regions of Spain by visiting its numerous castles and fortresses. This is an ideal way of learning more about the country's historical and artistic heritage while you explore the sites of battles, and imagine the life of a knight errant or a princess at the height of the Middle Ages. Come in and discover the monuments which are open to visitors, and enjoy the dramatised tours available at some of the sites for an extra special experience.

Aragon

How about a journey into the past, to the time of knights errant? In Aragonyou can experience that sensation by visiting its castles and fortresses.
Simply by driving along the roads throughout the region you'll be able to enjoy attractive landscapes in small towns and villages which are home to these 'skyscrapers of history'. This is the case of places such as Uncastillo, Sos del Rey Católico and Loarre, whose fortresses are open to visitors. Other ideas include the fortified city of Jaca, a perfect pentagon whose unusual layout can clearly be seen from the air, and the Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza, whose façade conceals the imposing Arab presence that can be seen inside.
Other castles of interest in the region include Sádaba (Zaragoza), Aínsaand Montearagón (Huesca), in addition to the castle of Mora de Rubielos (Teruel).

Information and booking

Castile-La Mancha

Looking for ideas for a short break? We suggest a trip to Castile-La Manchato visit some of its fortifications through the routes around the castles of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajaraand Toledo.
These are itineraries which are ideal for weekends, and which include features such as Almansa Castle, one of the settings of the Battle of Almansa, in Albacete; and in Ciudad Real, the site of the castle of Calatrava la Nueva, which was at one time the headquarters of the Order of Calatrava; the spectacular example of mediaeval palatial architecture at Belmonte Castlein Cuenca; the chance to follow in the footsteps of the legendary El Cid Campeador in the castles of Guadalajara; and discover the imprint of Christians and Muslims in the fortresses of Toledo.

Dramatised visits

There are castles which guarantee an entertaining visit while you learn all about the monument. These are places offering dramatised visits, and include the castles of Consuegra(Toledo) and Doña Berenguela (Ciudad Real). Furthermore, once a year Belmonte Castle (Cuenca) stages a major re-enactment of the 15th-century War of the Castilian Succession, which lasts several days and takes visitors back in time to the Middle Ages. Likewise, Oropesa Castle(Toledo) organises birdwatching events from its towers.

Practical tips

>These routes are designed to be done at your own pace in a few days using your own vehicle.

>We recommend spending the night in some of the castles along the way. A good place to do this would be the Castle of Pilas Bonas (Ciudad Real) or the castles which are today the site of Parador hotels, such as the castles of Sigüenza (Guadalajara), Alarcón (Cuenca), and Oropesa (Toledo). If you want to find out more about other unusual accommodation, visit this link

>The date of the historical re-enactment at Belmonte Castle varies from year to year, so we recommend checking dates in advance.

>Advance booking is required for guided visits and to take part in the historical re-enactment at Belmonte Castle.

>The dramatised visits are highly recommended, particularly for people travelling with children.

>The performances are usually only in Spanish, but this is still a very entertaining way to explore the spaces in the castle, and you may even pick up a little Spanish!

Practical tips

>There are many other castles in Castile-León. For more details, go to the region's tourism website.

>Advance booking is recommended for the dramatised visits.

>Dramatised visits are particularly recommended for families with children, and although they are usually in Spanish, they offer a fun way to see the spaces in the fortresses, even for those with a limited grasp of the language. You may even pick up a little Spanish!

>We recommend spending the night in some of the castles along the way. For example, you could do so in Magalia Castle (Avila), Castilnovo Castle (Segovia), or in any of the castles which are today the site of Parador hotels, such as the fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca) and the Torre del Caracol tower (Zamora). If you want to find out more about other unusual accommodation , visit this link.

Travel ideas

Madrid

Fancy attending a concert in a 15th-century castle? The venue is the castle of Manzanares el Real, only 50 kilometres outside the city of Madrid. This is a castle which in summer becomes an absolutely essential place to visit. When the sun goes down you can enjoy a sound and light show, a variety of music programmes, and dramatised visits by night. What's more, all year round you can tour the monument accompanied by actors who perform dramatisations to highlight the most interesting spaces in the castle.

Changing of the guard

This is not a castle, but in fact a royal palaceset amid beautiful gardens and in the very heart of the city. We are talking of the Royal Palace in Madrid, and we highly recommend timing your visit to coincide with the first Wednesday of the month so you can see for yourself the solemn ceremony of the Changing of the Royal Guard. All other Wednesdays you can enjoy a less elaborate version of this event.

Travel ideas

Navarre

Discover Navarrethrough its castles, watchtowers and fortifications.
You'll find four routes which cover the whole of the region, and link 19 strategic points which have been crucial to the defence of the territory of Navarre throughout its history.
These routes will take you to Pamplonawhere you can explore its citadel, one of the best conserved in Europe, in addition to the imposing castles of Javierand Olite. If you visit Olite Castle in the summer months, you'll be able to enjoy dramatised tours outside opening times, and sometimes even night visits.

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